Devine Scripture

Revelation 11:17

What does Revelation 11:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 11:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 11:17 means

The elders give thanks to the Lord God, the Almighty—the One who is and who was—because He has taken His great power and begun to reign. Their words stress God’s absolute identity and the present exercise of His might. What was long promised is now asserted as active: God’s reign is not theoretical; it is being manifested. Gratitude fits this moment, for His rule means the end of tyrants, the vindication of His name, and the establishment of justice. The title “the Almighty” underlines that no opposition can hinder Him. History’s turning point is the disclosure of the authority God has always possessed, now displayed without restraint.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

We give you praise, O Lord God, Ruler of all, who is and who was; because you have taken up your great power and are ruling your kingdom.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

saying, `We give thanks to Thee, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art, and who wast, and who art coming, because Thou hast taken Thy great power and didst reign;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who art and who wast and who art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and thou hast reigned.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

saying, We give thee thanks, LordGod Almighty, [He] who is, and who was, that thou hast taken thy great power and hast reigned.

Context

This thanksgiving follows the elders’ prostration and unpacks the meaning of the seventh trumpet’s proclamation. It emphasizes that God has moved from patience to open rule. The next verse will explain the consequences: though the nations rage, God’s wrath has come, bringing judgment to the dead, reward to His servants, and destruction to destroyers. In this flow, verse 17 celebrates God’s identity and action, while verse 18 applies those truths to the fates of all peoples, drawing together themes of justice and mercy at history’s culmination.

v.16And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,

v.17This passage

v.18And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 16:7

    And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

  • Isaiah 51:9

    Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Is it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces, that didst pierce the monster?

  • 2 Corinthians 9:15

    Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

  • Genesis 17:1

    And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

  • Revelation 1:8

    I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

  • Daniel 6:10

    And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem); and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

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